Political parties urge Governor to shift Jayalalithaa to Tamil Nadu

Chennai: A combine of 11 smaller political outfits today asked Karnataka Governor K Rosaiah to take steps to bring AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa, now lodged in a prison in Bangalore after being convicted in a graft case, back to Tamil Nadu in view of concerns of security.

"We appealed to the Governor to take steps in this regard in view of security concerns," Vettavalam Manigandan, convenor of the combine and president of Farmers and Toilers party, said.

"Jayalalithaa, after a long battle against Karnataka, secured justice for Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue," he told reporters and added that this was also a "key factor" that should be considered.

The Governor was apprised that agitations in Tamil Nadu, vis-a-vis the verdict against the AIADMK chief, was "voluntary, spontaneous and lawful," he said.

The law and order situation was normal and charges on this issue by opposition parties, including DMK, was due to political reasons and vendetta, the Governor was told.

On October 3, DMK had urged the Governor to "implement" rule of law in Tamil Nadu and alleged breakdown of law and order and assault on judiciary by ruling AIADMK after jailing of party chief Jayalalithaa.

A special court in Bangalore had on September 27 convicted and sentenced Jayalalithaa to four years imprisonment in the Rs 66.65-crore disproportionate assets case and also slapped a Rs 100 crore fine on her.